Vocabulary & Check Your Knowledge

Male Reproductive Vocabulary

Arthralgia

Joint pain.

Bulbourethral glands

(Also, Cowper’s glands) glands that secrete a lubricating mucus that cleans and lubricates the urethra prior to and during ejaculation.

Corpus cavernosum

Either of two columns of erectile tissue in the penis that fill with blood during an erection.

Corpus spongiosum

(Plural = corpora cavernosa) column of erectile tissue in the penis that fills with blood during an erection and surrounds the penile urethra on the ventral portion of the penis.

Ductus deferens

(also, vas deferens) duct that transports sperm from the epididymis through the spermatic cord and into the ejaculatory duct; also referred as the vas deferens.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Ejaculatory duct

Duct that connects the ampulla of the ductus deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle at the prostatic urethra.

Epididymis

(plural = epididymides) coiled tubular structure in which sperm start to mature and are stored until ejaculation.

Epididymitis

Inflammation/swelling of the epididymis.

Gamete

Haploid reproductive cell that contributes genetic material to form an offspring.

Glans penis

Bulbous end of the penis that contains a large number of nerve endings.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Hormone released by the hypothalamus that regulates the production of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland.

Gonads

Reproductive organs (testes in men and ovaries in women) that produce gametes and reproductive hormones.

Inguinal canal

Opening in abdominal wall that connects the testes to the abdominal cavity.

Leydig cells

Cells between the seminiferous tubules of the testes that produce testosterone, a type of interstitial cell.

Myalgia

Muscle pain.

Penis

Male organ of copulation.

Polyuria

Frequent urination.

Prepuce

(Also, foreskin) flap of skin that forms a collar around, and thus protects and lubricates, the glans penis; also referred as the foreskin.

Prostate gland

Doughnut-shaped gland at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra and contributing fluid to semen during ejaculation.

Scrotum

External pouch of skin and muscle that houses the testes.

Semen

Ejaculatory fluid composed of sperm and secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.

Seminal vesicle

Gland that produces seminal fluid, which contributes to semen.

Seminiferous tubules

Tube structures within the testes where spermatogenesis occurs.

Sertoli cells

Cells that support germ cells through the process of spermatogenesis; a type of sustentacular cell.

Sperm

(Also, spermatozoon) male gamete.

Spermatic cord

Bundle of nerves and blood vessels that supplies the testes; contains ductus deferens.

Spermatid

Immature sperm cells produced by meiosis II of secondary spermatocytes.

Spermatocyte

Cell that results from the division of spermatogonium and undergoes meiosis I and meiosis II to form spermatids.

Spermatogenesis

Formation of new sperm, occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

Spermatogonia

Diploid precursor cells that become sperm (singular = spermatogonium).

Spermiogenesis

Transformation of spermatids to spermatozoa during spermatogenesis.

Testes

Male gonads (singular = testis).

Testitis

Inflammation of the testicles.

Urethritis

Inflammation of the urethra.

Test Yourself

Male Reproductive System Glossary Reinforcement Activity (Text Version)
  1. The reproductive organs (testes in men and ovaries in women) that produce gametes and reproductive hormones is called the ______[Blank 1].
    1. Penis
    2. Semen
    3. Gonads
  2. The transformation of spermatids to spermatozoa during spermatogenesis is called ______[Blank 2].
    1. Spermatogenesis
    2. Prepuce
    3. Ductus deferens
  3. Glands that secrete a lubricating mucus that cleans and lubricates the urethra prior to and during ejaculation are called _______[Blank 3].
    1. Testes
    2. Bulbourethral glands
    3. Scrotum
  4. A doughnut-shaped gland at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra and contributing fluid to semen during ejaculation is called the _____[Blank 4].
    1. Seminal vesicle
    2. Epididymis
    3. Prostate gland
  5. Opening in the abdominal wall that connects the testes to the abdominal cavity is called the _____[Blank 5].
    1. Inguinal canal
    2. Sertoli cells
    3. Gamete

Check your answers: [1]

Activity source: Male Reproductive System Glossary Reinforcement Activity by Gisele Tuzon, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Male Reproductive System” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax). Adaptations: dividing Male Reproductive System chapter content into sub-chapters.

  1.  1. Gonads, 2. Spermatogenesis, 3. Bulbourethral glands, 4. Prostate gland, 5. Inguinal Canal ↵

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Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e Copyright © 2024 by Kimberlee Carter; Marie Rutherford; and Connie Stevens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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